Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan gestures from the sidelines during the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at FedEx Field. The Chiefs won 45-10. / Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

Mike Shanahan wasn't fired on Monday, nor did he quit as coach of Team RG3.

But sooner rather than much later, Shanahan -- 24-38 in nearly four years as Washington coach -- will join the likes of Norv Turner, Marty Schottenheimer, Steve Spurrier and Jim Zorn in the graveyard of Dan Snyder Coaches Past.

It's coming. The damage that has been done in recent weeks -- including Shanahan mulling whether to bench Robert Griffin III and the revelation in an ESPN.com report that the coach contemplated quitting after last season -- is too deep to overcome.

We're officially on Shanahan Watch.

Did he consider quitting?

"I'm not going to speculate through all those different things," Shanahan said. "But if you'd like to talk about Atlanta, I'd be more than happy to talk about Atlanta."

Washington (3-10) travels to face the Falcons on Sunday in the Unfulfilled Expectations Bowl.

Is he confident he'll keep his job for the rest of the season?

"If you'd like to talk about our football game coming up, I'd be more than happy to focus on that."

Does he want to come back next season?

"Anybody have anything to do with football?"

It's too bad that it has come to this, reading between the lines as the two-time Super Bowl-winning coach tap dances.

A year ago, with Robert Griffin III illuminating the vision, Shanahan had the team in the midst of a seven-game winning streak that resulted in an NFC East title.

Now he is considering shutting RG3 down for the season, because he wants to preserve Griffin for the offseason?

Shanahan explained his reasoning during a news conference, when he admitted that he had yet to discuss it with Griffin.

That seems absurd. How could he address it publicly before talking it through with Griffin by Monday afternoon?

It's also striking that Shanahan is talking about offseason preservation after he took immense heat for continuing to play a gimpy Griffin -- undoubtedly at the quarterback's behest -- in the life-altering playoff game in which knee ligaments were torn.

No doubt, Shanahan learned something from that setback. But he says that Griffin is 100% healthy now. To talk about risk now -- with Griffin enduring 24 sacks in five games --seems loaded. There's always risk on a football field.

Imagine what a benching would do for the relationship.

Yet if Shanny wants Danny to fire him ASAP, benching Snyder's favorite player might be the ticket. Shanahan recently maintained Griffin needed all of the live reps he can get after missing so much work last offseason while rehabbing.

Shanahan met with Snyder on Monday, and while not divulging specifics, he acknowledged that they talked about Griffin.

Last week, after Gary Kubiak mentioned benching Case Keenum and re-inserting Matt Schaub, he was sacked as Texans coach.

Then Texans owner Bob McNair made the announcement that Keenum would start.

Maybe Shanahan, who would fit the criteria McNair said he wanted in his next coach -- NFL head coaching experience -- is trying to bait Snyder.

But Shanahan considers his relationship with Snyder solid -- even though The Washington Post reported Monday that the franchise is considering firing Shanahan with cause. That would give the team reason to avoid paying the remainder of the $7 million-per-year contract that extends through 2014.

The squeeze is surely on Snyder now, and with his franchise plummeting into an abyss of embarrassment and unrest, it may be time to cut his losses.